Ruben's Journey To Recovery Overcoming Heroin Addiction And Physical Comorbidity Assignment Sample

Introduction: Ruben's Journey To Recovery Overcoming Heroin Addiction And Physical Comorbidity

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The significant case study “this report is the first episode” of SBS's Addicted Australia, which covers approximately six months of treatment for people with substance abuse problems. Treatment of heroin addiction at a time that a chronic condition is being explored not only with more experimental pharmacological treatments, but also with social, medical, and cultural dimensions. Ruben is a “48-year-old man” who has battled heroin addiction being 23 years. Despite several attempts at detoxification, he struggles to get out of his addiction. Ruben's overuse of heroin over the ago four years has resulted in physical complications that threaten the well-being of his legs. Recommend appropriate intervention strategies and consider appropriate pharmacotherapy to treat substance abuse.

Mental health conditions with Comorbid AOD

Briefly introduce:

Reuben's heroin addiction began more than 20 years ago and has faced various different challenges since trying to quit drinking. As a former shop manager, Rubens's addiction had a huge impact on his personal along with work life. His continuous heroin adoption affected his physical and mental health, noted to have an overall poor quality of life. He is a “48-year-old man who accepts” battled heroin addiction for 23 years. Reuben's mother Dora along with his sister Diane are the main supporters for recovery from the addiction stage. Despite several types of detoxification, he struggles to get out of his addiction. The beneficial paper will discuss “heroin addiction as a complex medical” along with the psychiatric problem, with established and emerging treatments. Addiction is a massive problem in Australia and their approaches for the prevention project are included in the treatment aspect.

Highlight the prevalence of comorbid AOD use and mental health:

According to the case study and Ruben's addiction effectiveness in his life, there is an assortment of effective analyses being heroin use disorders, counting both behavioral along with pharmacological (drug) therapies (Osborne & Kelly, 2023). The most common mental illnesses in people with substance adoption disorders are “depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, also personality disorders (mainly antisocial along with borderline disorders)”. The existence of these comorbid mental health problems develops “psychiatric admissions”, increases the likelihood of relapse in substance use as well as premature death, and increases the risk of both “psychiatric along with substance use disorders”.

Figure 1: Comorbidities in drug addiction

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According to general population estimates, 34% of Australians with substance use disorders also have at least one disorder. Although this proportion is Higher and more advanced programs among the people undergoing AOD treatment. Estimates of the current prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients “undergoing substance use therapy vary (47-100%)”. “Mood and anxiety disorders” against most common, action. prevalence of ongoing depression ranging from “27% to 85%” and summarized “anxiety disorder ranging from 1% to 75%”. Anxiety disorders in drug use settings emphasize the commitment of clinicians who are able to investigate along with assess these disorders in “routine clinical care” administration along with treatment strategies indicating a need.

Figure 2: Prevalence of comorbid AOD use and mental health in Australia

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The most commonly observed “psychiatric disorders in people seeking AOD treatment” mirror those observed current the general population (Green, Blue & Natal, 2021). Estimates between studies vary widely depending on the method and “duration used to assess the disorder”, with anxiety disorders being the most common (12-90%) and “GAD the most common (1-74%)”. Depression (27-84%), PTSD (5-65%), personality disorders, particularly his “ASPD (2-71%), and borderline personality disorder (BPD; 16-48%)”. “Bipolar disorder (4-52%)”; “obsessive-compulsive disorder” (OCD; 1-53%); psychiatric disorders (2-41%).

Readiness for change and brief interventions

Identification of the changes in several stages of Ruben's behavioral and addiction perspective. Short-term “interventions for substance abuse complications” have been available for many years by AOD “counselors, social workers, physicians, psychologists, and social service-provided departments” with vocational rehabilitation programs activated. Primary care providers have found a number of approach intervention techniques effective in appreciating substance abuse problems in his receiving specialized care (Weber, 2020). According to the case study, Ruben has few physical comorbidities his legs are in a harmful situation, and multiple mental health disorders are included in “Heroin Use Disorder (HUD)”. Muscle pain, spent on action necessary directed toward obtaining opioids, and other symptoms are indicated. Different types of behavior and mental conditions are affected in the professional and personal life.

A fundamental goal of the patient “Ruben in substance abuse treatment” settings is to cut “down the risk of harm against continued” drug use. The “greatest harm-reducing effect will come from abstinence” (Huang et al. 2021). However, an individual his goals are determined by the use of his behavior, and focusing on intermediate principles allows us because of more “immediate benefits in the intervention of the treatment process”. For professional treatment, intermediate goals may include stopping substance use, using it less frequently, and attending the next meeting.

Stages-of-Change-Model

The “Stages of Change Model” is presented in this aspect it helps to “understand the process of behavioral change” in the provided case study person Ruben. The key frame elements for a simple intervention are detailed, and five steps are outlined that can be used in varieties situations. This model has five main phases: Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.

Precontemplation:

According to the model the 1st stage defines that, Precontemplation is behavioral change. Ruben in the “pre-contemplation stage usually does not see his behavior as a problem” (Huang et al. 2021). This may be because he has not no more “experienced the negative importance” of his actions, or because he denies the “adversity or severity of the importance” they are experiencing.

Contemplation:

Ruben in the contemplating stage is broadly open to data “about the achievable consequences” of his addictive behavior in the last few years. He may be willing to learn different strategies to control or discontinue his addictive behavior “without committing” to particular access or encouragement by his family members as his mother and sister to make changes.

Preparation:

Readiness in the model means that Ruben is well-planned and prepared to make the adjustments, as he is a store manager. Thoughtful preparation is critical to success when it comes to drug addiction.

Action:

During the behavioral phase, it is important to identify and develop effective ways of different with stress. Ruben allows for effective action to recovering comes from heroin addiction.

Maintenance:

The maintenance phase of this model is to continue to achieve Ruben's progress initiated in the action step (Moustafa et al. 2020). For the addiction aspect, maintaining intentions is estimated for the change in behavioral and stable behaviors for recovery stages.

Pharmacotherapy

Given the devastating impact of this disease, the development of active “treatments for opioid addiction is of great importance”. Pharmacotherapy of opioid dependence includes “opioid agonists, partial agonists, opioid antagonists, and alpha-2-adrenergic agonists for detoxification” or continuing agonist maintenance. Its favorable results compared with detoxification therapy. Detoxification protocols have limited long-term efficacy and patient “discomfort remains a major challenge to treatment”. The efficacy of “buprenorphine compared to methadone remains controversial” and may be optimal for patients requiring low-dose agonist treatment.

Pharmacotherapy is the use of drugs(methadone, buprenorphine) to help treat opioid addiction as the case study person, Ruben. Victori's pharmacy system is made up of local pharmacy providers and specialized pharmacy services. A “generic practitioner prescribes methadone”, which is dispensed to customers by a “trained pharmacist”.

Figure 3: Pharmacotherapy Concept

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Evidence-based pharmacotherapy for the analysis of “alcohol use disorder (AUD)” is naltrexone. Naltrexone is an opioid receptor a certain that blocks every effect of endogenous opioids, counting opioids released by alcohol consumption. It is accessible in oral and slow-release injectable form. A number of studies have considered the convincingness of naltrexone in compressing “alcohol and other drugs” consumption along with excessive relapse in patients with AUD.

Heroin is a massive injected drug in Australia, heroin addicts benefit from treatment. Evidence of continued efficacy after “treatment is less impressive”. “Drug therapy attracts and retains” far more drug users than non-drug therapy, and is much more supported by evidence of benefits (Rao et al. 2019). Psychological interference plays an important role in “pharmacotherapy”, but the excellent nature along with the extent of the above-mentioned psychological inner parts remain controversial. Therefore, different treatment options, benefits, and non-pharmacological interventions are needed. The goal of detoxification is to safely and comfortably withdraw from various substances. “Detoxification” should not be considered the only treatment, but it is generally a useful introduction to other treatments.

“Naltrexone and cognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT)” were evaluated for the treatment activities in this drug addiction aspect. In comparison to those who obtained CBT, individuals who received both naloxone and CBT with higher rates (Baracz et al. 2019). The longer times before relapsing, according to several studies, naltrexone and CBT may help patients in the AOD concept and better results in recovery. Respond effectively to naltrexone, and others dealing with negative side effects, it is crucial to carefully assess every patient's health history and take with potential restrictions in the AOD concept.

Conclusion

An important case study within this report corresponds to the first episode of SBS's Addicted Australia, which defines the therapy and persons experiencing substance abuse disorders. There is currently research being done on pharmaceutical therapies for heroin addiction along with health, social, and other factors. A “48-year-old man” d Ruben “has struggled with heroin abuse” for 23 years. He struggles to overcome his addiction although making repeated attempts at detoxifying. Ruben's excessive consumption of heroin throughout the previous four years has caused physical issues that endanger the well-being of his legs. In order to address substance misuse, provide relevant intervention techniques and take appropriate pharmacotherapy into account.

Reference list

Book

• Yasser Khazaal. (2022). Insights in Addictive Disorders: 2021. Frontiers Media SA.

Journals

• Osborne, B., & Kelly, P. J. (2023). Substance use disorders, physical health and recovery capital: Examining the experiences of clients and the alcohol and other drug workforce. Drug and Alcohol Review. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/dar.13689 [Retrieved on: 28.05.23]
• Green, K. E., Blue, J. R., & Natal, S. N. (2021). An Integrated Model of Nature and Nurture Factors that Contribute to Addiction and Recovery. Substance Use & Misuse, 56(8), 1095-1107.Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Samantha-Natal-2/publication/350977453_An_Integrated_Model_of_Nature_and_Nurture_Factors_That_Contribute_to_Addiction_and_Recovery/links/62f65c6279550d6d1c770b2a/An-Integrated-Model-of-Nature-and-Nurture-Factors-That-Contribute-to-Addiction-and-Recovery.pdf [Retrieved on: 28.05.23]
• Weber, C. D. (2020). Targeting the oxytocin system to treat opioid dependence-mental health comorbidity (Doctoral dissertation, University of Surrey).Retrieved from: https://openresearch.surrey.ac.uk/esploro/fulltext/doctoral/Targeting-the-oxytocin-system-to-treat/99513578002346?repId=12139217920002346&mId=13140680250002346&institution=44SUR_INST [Retrieved on: 28.05.23]
• Huang, C. L., Chen, P. H., Lane, H. Y., Ho, I. K., & Chung, C. M. (2021). Risk assessment for heroin use and craving score using polygenic risk score. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(4), 259.Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/11/4/259/pdf [Retrieved on: 28.05.23]
• Moustafa, A. A., Tindle, R., Cashel, S., Parkes, D., Mohamed, E., & Abo Hamza, E. (2020). Bidirectional relationship between heroin addiction and depression: Behavioural and neural studies. Current Psychology, 1-17.Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eid-Abo-Hamza/publication/343997892_Bidirectional_relationship_between_heroin_addiction_and_depression_Behavioural_and_neural_studies/links/622bc2c497401151d21290e1/Bidirectional-relationship-between-heroin-addiction-and-depression-Behavioural-and-neural-studies.pdf?_sg%5B0%5D=started_experiment_milestone&_sg%5B1%5D=started_experiment_milestone&origin=journalDetail [Retrieved on: 28.05.23]
• Rao, R., Crome, I., Crome, P., & Iliffe, S. (2019). Substance misuse in later life: challenges for primary care: a review of policy and evidence. Primary health care research & development, 20, e117.Retrieved from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/6302D2464AA67DEDBBDAD4993C4EAE74/S1463423618000440a.pdf/div-class-title-substance-misuse-in-later-life-challenges-for-primary-care-a-review-of-policy-and-evidence-div.pdf [Retrieved on: 28.05.23]
• Osborne, B., & Kelly, P. J. (2023). Substance use disorders, physical health and recovery capital: Examining the experiences of clients and the alcohol and other drug workforce. Drug and Alcohol Review. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/dar.13689 [Retrieved on: 28.05.23]
• Power, M. (2021). Exploring collaborative peer recovery coaching in the context of substance use disorders: an Australian work-based study. Retrieved from: https://research.usq.edu.au/download/5aa3465586ad97a5be740f5c519806ccb8622546f67ed305c998f8120bad9d76/4640689/Maria%20Power%20CPRC%20Final%20Thesis%20Post-Examination%20June%202021.pdf [Retrieved on: 28.05.23]

Article

• Baracz, S. J., Everett, N. A., & Cornish, J. L. (2020). The impact of early life stress on the central oxytocin system and susceptibility for drug addiction: Applicability of oxytocin as a pharmacotherapy. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 110, 114-132.

Website

• https://www.turningpoint.org.au/treatment/about-addiction/treating-addiction/pharmacotherapy